Reversible lock-hinge.



NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALFRED L. FUSS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

REVERSIBLE LOCK-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,724, dated November 21, 1899.

" Application led July 29, 1899. Serial No. 725,525'. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. FUSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Lock-Hinges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to door and' blind hinges, and has for its object the production of a reversible lock-hinge which by preference is formed of steel-or malleable iron,there by avoiding the objections to the easily-breakable cast-iron hinges now in general use. It is also designed to overcome the inconvenience andlconfusion which results in ordering so-called right and left hand hinges by persons unfamiliar with their construction.

To this end my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the devices hereinafter described and claimed, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a blind applied to the framework of a house in a closed conditionwith my improved hinge in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in an open position. Fig. 3 represents perspective views of the removable reversible coupling device forming a part of my improved hinge. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one leaf of the hinge, such as is preferably used on frame houses; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a hinge such as is preferably used on brick houses.

A in the drawings represents one leaf of the hinge, and, as stated, both leaves of the hinge are preferably made identically alike, so that a description of one will answer for both. The leaf when made for use on frame houses is slightly different in shape from that which is used on brick houses, for the reason that a longer Y hinge is required for brick houses than for frame houses. The leaf is provided with a pintle d and in its body portion with screw-holes d'. A space d? is provided between the pintle and the main body portion of the leaf to allow for the passage of the coupling device of the hinge between the same. The Wall forming the upper edge of this passage a2 is beveled olf, as at as, to let the leaf which is attached to the blind ride over the coupling device, which is attached to the other leaf of the hinge. The leaf is also provided on the vertical wall of the opening a2 with a guide or projection a4,which is adapted to fit into and engage a recess b, formed in the coupling device B. This guide or projection may be either rounded or angular in cross-section.

The coupling device B consists of a piece of metal, which may be cast or otherwise suitably formed, and is provided with two apertures h2 and b3, the pintle of one of the leaves engaging one of the apertures when the hinge is to be used as a right-hand hinge and the pintle on the other leaf engaging the'other aperture when the hinge is to be used as a left-hand hinge.

When it is desired to use the hinge as a right-hand hinge,the coupling device is placed upon the hinge so that it will extend slightly inward, the pintle engaging the aperture b2,

and when it is desired to use the hinge as a left-hand hinge it is simply necessary to turn the coupling device upside down and pass the pintle through the aperture b3.

The construction of the coupling device is always the same, whether used for aright or left hand hinge.

As a further means of securing the coupling device to the leaf the leaf may be providedwith an upwardly-extending thin projection a5, which may be given a slight tap with a hammer to turn it over upon the coupling device, so as to prevent the butt from having a vertical movement. Should it be desired at any time to remove the coupling device, the projection can be turned up with a tool to a vertical position, and thus permit the coupling device to slide vertically.

The main feature of my invention is the production of a removable reversible coupling device which may be applied to a leaf whether said leaf is attached to the blind or to the house. The coupling device is provided, respectively, on its upper and lower faces with upwardly-extending projections b4 and b5, which projections are beveled on their edges, so that the leaf of the hinge which is` IOO attached to the .blind Acan ride over the same by giving it a slight pressure upwardly, but which construction when it is in a position baci: of said projection will be locked in saidu position by the, Weight of said'blind. An. other important feature of my invention is' the fact that b'oth leaves are flat, which en ables the said leaves to be stamped or pressed out of steel or wrought metal, which is very important, as it enables a reversible steel or wrought-metal hinge to be produced at a comparatively slight cost.` Another important feature of my invention is that the same construction of coupling device can be used yfor a right-'hand `hinge or a left-hand hinge.

Having now described my invention,- what lI claim as new, and desire to secure vby Letters l. A reversible hinge comprisingin its construction two leaves,each of which is provided with a pintle, afremovable coupling device which is formed with two apertures, said coupling device being capable of being reversed so that it can be used t'o form either a righta hand or left-hand hinge, substantially as de-' scribed. Y

2. A reversible hinge comprising in its construction two leaves, each of which is provided with a pintle, a reversible coupling device provided with two vertical apertures and an vupper and lower locking projection, the said coupling device being adapted to be applied to form eithera right-hand or left-hand hinge, substantially as described.

3. In a reversible lock-hinge the combination with a reversible coupling device pro vided with two Vertical apertures and having upper and lower locking projections, of two hinge-leaves each provided with a pintle and 

